Healthcare executives are looking for alternative staffing models, according to the results of a recent survey from tech company ShiftMed.
“The survey, which collected responses from 130 healthcare executives across the country, highlights the industry’s growing interest in alternative staffing models and the challenges health systems face when relying too heavily on travel nursing,” according to a press release from the company.
The vast majority (98%) of survey respondents said that they either currently are using or are considering at least one alternative staffing model, such as on-demand workforce management marketplaces, third-party agencies or internal labor pools.
“This significant trend indicates a shift towards more flexible and innovative solutions,” ShiftMed said.
Flexibility is trending. Almost 70% of the respondents noted the importance of providing nurses with the flexibility to work wherever and whenever they want, “demonstrating a growing emphasis on accommodating the changing preferences of the healthcare workforce.”
“Among healthcare leaders exploring alternative workforce management solutions, top priorities include full-time recruitment (77%), credentialing and onboarding (70%), internal employee float pools (52%)and education technology (41%),” ShiftMed noted.
Healthcare executives are moving away from using travel nurses, according to the data. Two-thirds (66%) of respondents said it is just too expensive to bring on travel nurses. Almost half of the respondents (45%) “found that travel nurses disrupted the company culture and the dynamics of employed staff.”
In other news, ShiftMed raised $200 million in February, led by healthcare investors Panoramic Ventures, with participation from Blue Heron Capital and Audacious Capital. Funds are being used to expand ShiftMed’s national footprint across all segments of the healthcare market, according to the firm.
